November 18, 2014

NYSID participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury on Veterans' Day

NYSID recently dedicated Battle Buddy Centers on SUNY and CUNY college campuses upstate and downstate, bringing the total number of Battle Buddy Centers across New York State to six.

SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury and John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City are the two newest Battle Buddy Center locations, in collaboration with NYSID member agencies Community, Work & Independence, Inc. (CWI) in Glens Falls and Fedcap Rehabilitation Services in New York City, respectively.

Battle Buddy Centers are safe havens for veterans to socialize with their fellow veterans and receive services they need. Based on the military concept of a “Battle Buddy,” which partners soldiers to assist each other both in and out of combat, Battle Buddy Centers offer activities to encourage camaraderie and foster veterans to give and receive mutual support.

NYSID dedicated the Battle Buddy Center at SUNY Adirondack on Veterans’ Day. The college honored all veterans with a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on campus, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony featuring members of the SUNY Adirondack Veterans’ Student Club, and culminating with a ribbon-cutting, Battle Buddy Center plaque and check presentation.

The Battle Buddy Center will continue to enhance the student veteran experience at SUNY Adirondack by encouraging academic and personal achievement, providing information specific to their status as veterans, and creating a common ground for them to associate with one another. The room is named in memory of Joseph L. Randles Jr., a decorated World War II veteran who served as a member and chairman of the SUNY Adirondack Board of Trustees.

SUNY Adirondack is a 2014 Military Friendly School whose students comprise a Veterans’ Student Group for those who served on active duty, are in the Armed Forces or Reservists.

NYSID dedicated its sixth Battle Buddy Center in New York State at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City

NYSID dedicated the Battle Buddy Center at John Jay College on November 13. The Battle Buddy Center will enable CUNY and the college’s Office of Military and Veteran Services to assist veterans in achieving the best possible reintegration into civilian life, sustainable employment and long-term economic well-being. The event was followed by a Veteran Salute honoring John Jay College’s student and alumni veterans.

Romano joined the following individuals in John Jay College’s Battle Buddy Center dedication ceremony: Jeremy Travis, John Jay College president; Lisa Beatha, CUNY director of veterans’ affairs; Lynette Cook-Francis, John Jay College vice president for student affairs; Clarice Joynes, deputy commissioner for the New York City Mayor’s Office of Veteran Affairs; and Joseph Giannetto, Fedcap COO.

John Jay College’s Battle Buddy Center will continue to enhance the student veteran experience at John Jay by encouraging academic and personal achievement, providing information specific to their status as veterans, and creating a common ground for them to associate with one another.

“NYSID supports job creation efforts for a diverse group of New Yorkers with disabilities through our member agencies and assists with veterans’ support programs, promoting quality of life for veterans as they reconnect to the New York State workforce,” Romano said. “We recognize that creating educational and employment opportunities for service-disabled veterans and other New Yorkers who face barriers to employment is not only the right thing to do, it also improves our state’s economy and strengthens our communities.

“NYSID supports SUNY Adirondack and its Veterans’ Student Group, and John Jay College and its Office of Military and Veteran Services, in assisting veterans achieve success personally, academically and professionally. Based upon the current veteran population and the anticipated growth of veterans’ programs and services, NYSID is pleased to partner with SUNY Adirondack and CWI, and John Jay College and Fedcap, in these Battle Buddy Centers.”

NYSID’s Battle Buddy Centers have collectively hosted more than 11,000 visits by veterans since September 2011. Battle Buddy Centers are made possible through grant funding from NYSID and support from NYSID member agencies.

In addition to SUNY Adirondack and John Jay College, NYSID has participated in the opening of Battle Buddy Centers at the following locations: Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson; SUNY Ulster in Stone Ridge; Hudson Valley Community College in Troy; and Clear Path for Veterans in Chittenango.

NYSID supports job creation efforts for service veterans through its member agencies and assists other veterans’ support programs, promoting quality of life for veterans as they reconnect to the New York State workforce. We salute them for their patriotism and valor.